Because VJ needs yet another thread on the Ground Zero Mosque

[^_^ 5,021]

I was in Canada over the weekend and did lunch with an old friend. She is Pakistani and used to be hijabi in college. Today, she's married to a Pakistani ex-Muslim overachiever. They've both kinda morphed into non-religious "we are the world" socialist types. The kind who berate me for the fact that recycling isn't second nature to me yet. The kind who are aghast at the fact that it took my "ignorant american" mind as much as five seconds to remember where Brunei is.

So, of course, when I bring up the mosque, I'm expecting to hear echos of Cenk Uygur (I can't stand that mofo). Instead, what I hear is the exact opposite. "What an act of provocation," they say. Provocation by who? The people who want to build Park51, of course. I pressed for clarification on the issue and they said it all boils down to this - in everyday conversations with everyday Muslims in North America, the tone is one of triumphalism. They attacked us in Iraq, but if this happens then in the end we win. This is an act of victory in their minds and the organizers of Park51 know it. That's why they're doing it.

And the bit about it being a "community center"? Laughable, they said. Can you imagine any self-respecting woman going into a gender segregated swimming pool for a lap, asked my friend. She said, don't kid yourself, it's not for the "community" unless the community is Muslims.

The conversation went further into her claims that Islamic radicalism already has deep roots in America through ISNA and that she knows this because of who her family knows. She asked me why I think Americans are so naive about this, and I pondered saying something about Christian extremists being a larger cultural threat but thought better of it. I'm not sure it's true anyway. Sometimes we mistake partisan garbage for truth and that may be an example of it.

[Pooky 3,355]

I was in Canada over the weekend and did lunch with an old friend. She is Pakistani and used to be hijabi in college. Today, she's married to a Pakistani ex-Muslim overachiever. They've both kinda morphed into non-religious "we are the world" socialist types. The kind who berate me for the fact that recycling isn't second nature to me yet. The kind who are aghast at the fact that it took my "ignorant american" mind as much as five seconds to remember where Brunei is.

So, of course, when I bring up the mosque, I'm expecting to hear echos of Cenk Uygur (I can't stand that mofo). Instead, what I hear is the exact opposite. "What an act of provocation," they say. Provocation by who? The people who want to build Park51, of course. I pressed for clarification on the issue and they said it all boils down to this - in everyday conversations with everyday Muslims in North America, the tone is one of triumphalism. They attacked us in Iraq, but if this happens then in the end we win. This is an act of victory in their minds and the organizers of Park51 know it. That's why they're doing it.

And the bit about it being a "community center"? Laughable, they said. Can you imagine any self-respecting woman going into a gender segregated swimming pool for a lap, asked my friend. She said, don't kid yourself, it's not for the "community" unless the community is Muslims.

The conversation went further into her claims that Islamic radicalism already has deep roots in America through ISNA and that she knows this because of who her family knows. She asked me why I think Americans are so naive about this, and I pondered saying something about Christian extremists being a larger cultural threat but thought better of it. I'm not sure it's true anyway. Sometimes we mistake partisan garbage for truth and that may be an example of it.

[Ban Hammer 12,857]

I was in Canada over the weekend and did lunch with an old friend. She is Pakistani and used to be hijabi in college. Today, she's married to a Pakistani ex-Muslim overachiever. They've both kinda morphed into non-religious "we are the world" socialist types. The kind who berate me for the fact that recycling isn't second nature to me yet. The kind who are aghast at the fact that it took my "ignorant american" mind as much as five seconds to remember where Brunei is.

So, of course, when I bring up the mosque, I'm expecting to hear echos of Cenk Uygur (I can't stand that mofo). Instead, what I hear is the exact opposite. "What an act of provocation," they say. Provocation by who? The people who want to build Park51, of course. I pressed for clarification on the issue and they said it all boils down to this - in everyday conversations with everyday Muslims in North America, the tone is one of triumphalism. They attacked us in Iraq, but if this happens then in the end we win. This is an act of victory in their minds and the organizers of Park51 know it. That's why they're doing it.

And the bit about it being a "community center"? Laughable, they said. Can you imagine any self-respecting woman going into a gender segregated swimming pool for a lap, asked my friend. She said, don't kid yourself, it's not for the "community" unless the community is Muslims.

The conversation went further into her claims that Islamic radicalism already has deep roots in America through ISNA and that she knows this because of who her family knows. She asked me why I think Americans are so naive about this, and I pondered saying something about Christian extremists being a larger cultural threat but thought better of it. I'm not sure it's true anyway. Sometimes we mistake partisan garbage for truth and that may be an example of it.

you shoulda reported her for being a bigot.

[chri'stina 190]

Interesting.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I think radicals in Islam in America are smaller than we fear, but greater than we hear, because it is too politically insensitive to even suggest it. *Ducking to avoid the flurry of BIGOT!!* which shall surely be hurled my way...

[scandal 951]

I was in Canada over the weekend

And wot, no Timbits anecdotes?

[^_^ 5,021]

And wot, no Timbits anecdotes?

I'm not a big fan of TH.

[scandal 951]

I'm not a big fan of TH.

Country Style, by a country mile.

[Marilyn. 340]

I prefer Yum Yum donuts myself...

[TBoneTX 43,194]

I was in Canada over the weekend

Q: How did Canada get its name?

A: C eh N eh D eh, si man.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Be afraid. Be very afraid, coz we all know each other and all talk to each other, and we all are very good at keepig our secret decoder rings from the rest of you.

Your friend must have had a stroke recently. My condolences.

I was in Canada over the weekend and did lunch with an old friend. She is Pakistani and used to be hijabi in college. Today, she's married to a Pakistani ex-Muslim overachiever. They've both kinda morphed into non-religious "we are the world" socialist types. The kind who berate me for the fact that recycling isn't second nature to me yet. The kind who are aghast at the fact that it took my "ignorant american" mind as much as five seconds to remember where Brunei is.

So, of course, when I bring up the mosque, I'm expecting to hear echos of Cenk Uygur (I can't stand that mofo). Instead, what I hear is the exact opposite. "What an act of provocation," they say. Provocation by who? The people who want to build Park51, of course. I pressed for clarification on the issue and they said it all boils down to this - in everyday conversations with everyday Muslims in North America, the tone is one of triumphalism. They attacked us in Iraq, but if this happens then in the end we win. This is an act of victory in their minds and the organizers of Park51 know it. That's why they're doing it.

And the bit about it being a "community center"? Laughable, they said. Can you imagine any self-respecting woman going into a gender segregated swimming pool for a lap, asked my friend. She said, don't kid yourself, it's not for the "community" unless the community is Muslims.

The conversation went further into her claims that Islamic radicalism already has deep roots in America through ISNA and that she knows this because of who her family knows. She asked me why I think Americans are so naive about this, and I pondered saying something about Christian extremists being a larger cultural threat but thought better of it. I'm not sure it's true anyway. Sometimes we mistake partisan garbage for truth and that may be an example of it.

[Ban Hammer 12,857]

I'm not a big fan of TH.

commie!

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Be afraid. Be very afraid, coz we all know each other and all talk to each other, and we all are very good at keepig our secret decoder rings from the rest of you.

It is clearly an anecdote.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Legacy member

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Practicing Muslims are not allowed to criticize Islam. So it makes sense that only former Muslims can be honest.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Is Park 51 still front-page news?